1. (1) From the funds available, the Department shall make payments as follows:

   1. (a) 20% of a dentist’s or dental hygienist’s principal loan amount at the time he or she applied for the program.

      1. For recertifications, the 20% calculation will be based on the principal loan amount for the application calendar year in which the applicant originally applied and received an award.

      2. For new applications, or applicants that did not receive an award in the most recent application calendar year, the 20% calculation will be based on the principal loan amount submitted for the current application calendar year.

   2. (b) In no event will the award amount exceed:

      1. $50,000 per year per eligible dentist;

      2. $7,500 per year per eligible dental hygienists; or

      3. The principal balance owed by the applicant.

2. (2) If an eligible applicant prioritized to receive an award requests less than the maximum award amount, they will receive the reduced amount requested within statutory limits.
3. (3) If available funds are not exhausted in Tier 1, awards will be issued to applicants in Tiers 2 through 4 in sequential tier order.
4. (4) No applicant will receive more than five FRAMEdental awards. FRAMEdental Awards are not required to be awarded in consecutive years.
5. (5) If award funding is returned to the Department for any reason, the Department will contact the awardee to determine if the awardee currently holds a qualified loan that the funds can be redistributed towards. If the awardee no longer holds a qualified loan, then the returned funds will be reallocated to the subsequent award cycle budget.
6. (4) This rule will be reviewed and repealed, modified, or renewed through the rulemaking process 5 years from the effective date.

Rulemaking Authority 381.4019 FS. Law Implemented 381.4019 FS. History – New 2-15-24, Amended 5-21-25.